SURVIVAL is still on the cards for Redditch RFC after a vital win over fellow strugglers Stoke OB at the weekend.

Knowing defeat could consign them to relegation, the Kingfishers pulled out the stops in a morale-boosting 25-10 victory.

And with lowly Trinity Guild hammered 53-7 by Pershore, Redditch swapped places with Stoke OB to climb to second from bottom, one point behind Guild and four from safety.

But captain Andy Douglas' Great Escape hinges on Mission Impossible on Saturday when Redditch entertain league leaders Silhillians (ko 3pm).

Sils have lost only two matches this season and Douglas is preparing to change his game plan to cope with the visitors' flying wingers.

Scrum half Wil Thompson and back row Tim Harris are back in action but prop Karl Thompson is unavailable.

Douglas is desperate to return to action as his side take on three of the top four sides in a daunting run-in.

The Kingfishers skipper has been sidelined for weeks by a troublesome elbow injury but saw a physio last week and is hoping to get the all-clear on Friday for a playing return.

"I haven't played for a while so I'm short of match fitness," said the injury-plagued captain.

"I'm hoping I will be cleared this week and if so I will more than likely start on the bench."